Laundry machines



April 19, 1966 R. H. KERMAN LAUNDRY MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 30, 1963 Fig-1 INVENTOR. I fl at-n7- H. KE/MMAI fihmu @4 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,246,492 LAUNDRY MACHINES Robert H. Kerrnan, East Moline, 111., assignor to Ametek, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 305,774 6 Claims. (Cl. 68-12) The present invention relates to laundry machines and particularly to an improved control circuit for laundry machines.

It has been the practice in the past to employ centrifugally operated electrical switches within the motor for effecting the forward, reverse and high speed drives for the article receiving basket of laundry machines. These centrifugally operated switches were a source of trouble in that they were not too-dependable and produced erratic operation.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a control circuit for a laundry machine in which a two-speed motor, having an extremely great speed difference, is employed and in which the change from one direction of rotation to the other, as well as from a slow to a fast speed, is effected in a simplified manner.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a control circuit in which the direction of motor rotation and speed are controlled by relay means rather than by centrifugal switches.

In one aspect of the invention, a laundry machine may comprise a housing within which an article receiving basket may be mounted for rotation. The basket may be fixed to a shaft extending out through the rear of the housing and journaled in bearings within a frame structure.

In another aspect of the invention, a single electric motor, having a main winding and a starting winding for low speed and a main winding and starting winding for high speed, may be mounted on the frame. Its output shaft may support a pulley that is belted to a larger pulley on the shaft supporting the article receiving basket.

In still another aspect of the invention, the usual hot and cold water inlets may be provided for the machine, as well as a drain. These inlets and drain may be provided with valve means well known in the art.

In still another aspect of the invention, a control circuit may be provided for the machine, and it may include a cycle timer for sequentially operating the'various components of the machine in succession.

In still another aspect of the invention, the low speed reversing winding of the motor may be combined with a starting winding by means responsive to the electrical operation of the motor as distinguished from mechanical linkages such as centrifugal switches.

In still another aspect of the invention, the high speed winding for the motor may be combined with a separate starting winding by means that is also responsive to the electrical operation of the motor as distinguished from mechanical linkage means such as centrifugal switches. The change-over from the low speed reversing winding to the high speed winding of the motor may be effected by relay means under the control of the cycle timer.

The above, other objects and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawing which are merely exemplary.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a laundry machine to which the principles of the invention have been applied; and

FIG. 2 is a wiring diagram of a control circuit for the machine of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, the principles of the invention 3,246,492 V Patented Apr. 19, 1966 are shown as applied to a laundry machine 10 including a housing 11 within which is mounted an article receiving basket (not shown) that is fixed to a shaft 12. Shaft 12 extends out through the rear of the housing 11 and 1s journaled in bearing means 13 supported by a frame 14. An electric motor 15 is also mounted on frame 14 and its output shaft 16 supports a pulley 17 that is connected to a larger pulley 18 on shaft 12 by a belt 19.

The housing 11 may include a drain pipe 20 leading from its lowermost point, and it also may be provided with cold and hot water inlets 21 and 22. The drain pipe 20 and inlets 21, 22 may be provided with solenoid operated valves (not shown in FIG. 1) the coils 20', 21 and 22' of which are shown in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 2, the motor 15 is shown as including low speed terminals T T and T which are connected to forward and reversing switches F and R. Also, motor 15 includes high speed terminals T T and T which are connected to high speed switch 61. With switch 23 closed for automatic operation, the closing of switch 24 energizes cycle timer 25 through normally closed switch 26 on contact 26A. The cycle timer 25 is of conventional design and may include adjustable cam means for effecting, in timed relation, the openingv and closing of those switches in FIG. 2 that are represented by one-half of an arrowhead.

With switch 26 in the position shown, current flows through line 27, switch 28, contact 28A, line 29, extract switch 30A, line 30, switch 31 which is shown as con-ducting the current through the low level switch 32 to coil 22, thus opening the hot water inlet 22. After a predetermined time interval, the cycle timer may close switch 33, energizing coil 21' and introducing cold water to the housing. A low level is used for wash and a high level for rinse. With switch 28 in the position shown, coil 20' is energized, thereby closing drain pipe 20.

Closing switch 24, with switch 26 in the position shown, energizes a reversing timer 35 through switch 36. The reversing timer 35 alternately and about every thirty seconds closes switch 37 and opens switch 38, thereby energizing relay 37A which closes switch F in the circuit for motor 15. After about a thirty-second or other selected interval, switch 37 is opened and switch 38 is closed, dc-energizing relay 37A and energizing relay 38A. Accordingly, switch F is opened and switch R is closed in the circuit for motor 15.

As seen in FIG. 2, the motor 15 is shown as having a main low speed winding 39 and a main high speed winding 40. The main low speed winding is adapted to be energized reversely by closing switches F and R. There is provided a starting winding 41 for the main slow speed winding and it is energized by current passing through an electrostatic condenser means 42, a normally closed contact 43 of a voltage relay 44 that is connected across the starting winding 41. When the slow speed starting winding 41 is energized and the motor 15 accelerates, a counter electromotive force is developed in the starting winding 41, energizing the voltage relay 44, which opens the normally closed contacts 43 and thereby drops out the star-ting electrostatic condenser means 42. However, an oil-filled run capacitor 45 remains in series with the slow speed starting winding 41 which produces an additional torque from the slow speed starting winding 41. This torque, added to that produced by the main slow speed winding 39, keeps motor 15 running at the low speed for washing.

In order to ensure that the motor 15 is rotating in the same direction as it will rotate in its high speed cycle, cycle timer 25 opens contacts 36 about thirty seconds before it moves contacts 28 to the dotted line position. Accordingly, if the reverse relay 38A is effective, the reversing timer 35 remains effective until the next forward rotation of the motor 15, whereupon the reversing timer is de-energized.

With switch 28 in the lower position, coil 20' is deenergized, opening drain pipe 20 and permitting the free water in housing 11 to pass to drain. Simultaneously, the relay 6%) is energized through a pressure switch 46 after cycle switch 30B is closed, switch 46 remaining open until the free water within housing 11 has been substantially completely drained. When this condition has been achieved, the relay so is energized, opening contacts 60A in the circuit for relays 37A and 38A and closing 61 in the circuit for motor 15.

There is a starting winding 47 for the high speed winding 40 of motor 15. When the contacts 61 are closed by the energization of the relay 60, current is supplied to the main run winding 40 and also to the starting winding 47 through normally closed contacts 48 of a voltage relay 49 connected across winding 47 and a starting capacitor 50. When the motor 15 has accelerated to about 2900- 3000 r.p.m., the back electromotive force in coil 47 energizes voltage relay 49, opening contacts 43 and the motor 15 then accelerates to 3500 rpm. on winding 4% and continues to run on winding 40 during the remainder of the extraction period.

The particular motor 15 with its circuitry as described has the capability of providing an extremely great difference between slow and extract speeds, such being in the order of about 410 rpm. and 3500 r.p.m. Furthermore, the use of the voltage relay 49 in place of a centrifugal switch prevents overspeeding of a low speed centrifugal switch when operating on high speed or dragging of a high speed centrifugal switch during low speed operation of motor 15.

Although the various features of the improved control circuit for laundry machines have been shown and described in detail to fully disclose one embodiment of the invention, it will be evident that changes may be made in such details and certain features may be used without others without departing from the principles of the invention.

' What is claimed is:

1. In a laundry machine, a housing; an article receiving basket mounted in said housing for rotation; cold and hot water inlet means in said housing; a drain leading from said housing; electrically operated valve means for said inlet means and said drain; an electric motor connected to said basket for rotating it, said motor including a reversing, slow speed main Winding and a high speed main winding; a starting winding for each of said main windings; impedance means for increasing the torque of said low speed starting winding; means for maintaining energi zation of both said low speed starting winding and said low speed main winding to keep the motor at a low speed for washing, said means including voltage responsive means for connecting said impedance means in series with said low speed starting winding in response to the electrical operation of said low speed starting winding; means in the circuit of the high speed starting winding for cutting out said high speed starting winding when said motor has achieved a predetermined speed, whereby said motor continues to accelerate on said high speed main winding; a control circuit including separate relay means for opening and closing contacts within the circuit for said motor to cause it alternately to rotate forwardly and reversely at a slow speed and to rotate at an extracting speed in a forward direction; and a cycle timer for controlling said relay means.

2. In a laundry machine, a housing; an article receiving basket mounted in said housing for rotation; cold and hot water inlet means in said housing; a drain leading from said housing; electrically operated valve means for said inlet means and said drain; an electric motor connected to said basket for rotating it, said motor including a reversing, slow speed main winding and a high speed main winding; a starting winding for each of said main windings; impedance means for increasing the torque of said low speed starting winding; means for maintaining energization of both said low speed starting winding and said low speed main winding to keep the motor at a low speed for washing, said means including voltage responsive means for connecting said impedance means in series with said low speed starting winding in response to the electrical operation of said low speed starting winding; means in the circuit of the high speed starting winding for cutting out said high speed starting winding when said motor has achieved a predetermined speed, whereby said motor continues to accelerate on said high speed main winding; a control circuit including separate relay means for opening and closing contacts within the circuit for said motor to cause it alternately to rotate forwardly and reversely at a slow speed and to rotate at an extracting speed in a forward direction; a reversing timer adapted alternately to energize said separate relay means for effecting the forward and reverse rotations of said motor; and a cycle timer for controlling said relay means and said reversing timer.

3. In a laundry machine, a housing; an article receiving basket mounted in said housing for rotation; cold and hot water inlet means in said housing; a drain leading from said housing; electrically operated valve means for said inlet means and said drain; an electric motor connected to said basket for rotating it, said motor including a reversing, slow speed main winding and a high speed main winding; a starting winding for each of said main windings; impedance means for increasing the torque of said low speed starting winding; means for maintaining energization of both said low speed starting winding and said low speed main winding to keep the motor at a low speed for washing, said means including voltage responsive means for connecting said impedance means in series with said low speed starting winding in response to the electrical operation of said low speed starting winding; means in the circuit of the high speed starting winding for cutting out said high speed starting winding when said motor has achieved a predetermined speed, whereby said motor continues to accelerate on said high speed main winding; a control circuit including separate relay means for opening and closing contacts within the circuit for said motor to cause it alternately to rotate forwardly and reversely at a slow speed and to rotate at an extracting speed in a forward direction; a reversing timer adapted alternately to energize said separate relay means for effecting the forward and reverse rotations of said motor; a cycle timer for controlling said relay means and said reversing timer; and means for insuring the forward rotation of said motor when the relay for its high speed windings is energized.

4. In a laundry machine, a housing; an article receiving basket mounted in said housing for rotation; cold and hot water inlet means in said housing; a drain leading from said housing; electrically operated valve means for said inlet means and said drain; an electric motor connected to said basket for rotating it, said motor including a reversing, slow speed main winding and a high speed main winding; a starting winding for each of said main windings; impedance means for increasing the torque of said low speed starting winding; means for maintaining energization of both said low speed starting winding and said low speed main winding to keep the motor at a low speed for washing, said means including voltage responsive means for connecting said impedance means in series with said low speed starting winding in response to the electrical operation of said low speed starting winding; means in the circuit of the high speed starting winding for cutting out said high speed starting winding when sait motor has achieved a predetermined speed, whereby said motor continues to accelerate on said high speed main winding; a control circuit including separate relay means for opening and closing contacts within the circuit for said motor to cause it alternately to rotate forwardly and reversely at a slow speed and to rotate at an extracting speed in a forward direction; a reversing timer adapted alternately to energize said separate relay means for effecting the forward and reverse rotations of said motor; a cycle timer for controlling said relay means and said reversing timer; and means for insuring the forward rotation of said motor before the relay for said reversing timer is de-energized.

5. In a laundry machine, a housing; an article receiving basket mounted in said housing'for rotation; cold and hot water inlet means in said housing; a drain leading from said housing; electrically operated valve means for said inlet means and said drain; an electric motor connected to said basket for rotating it, said motor including a reversing, slow speed main winding and a high speed main winding; a starting winding for each of said main windings; impedance means for increasing the torque of said low speed starting winding; means for maintaining energization of both said low speed starting winding and said low speed main Winding to keep the motor at a low speed for washing, said means including voltage responsive means for connecting said impedance means in series with said low speed starting winding in response to the electrical operation of said low speed starting winding; means in the circuit of the high speed starting winding for cutting out said high speed starting winding when said motor has achieved a predetermined speed, whereby said motor continues to accelerate on said high speed main winding; a control circuit including separate relay means for opening and closing contacts within the circuit for said motor to cause it alternately to rotate forwardly and reversely at a slow speed and to rotate at an extracting speed in a forward direction; a reversing timer adapted alternately to energize said separate relay means for effecting the forward and reverse rotations of said motor; a cycle timer for controlling said relay means and said reversing timer; and means on said cycle timer for insuring the forward rotation of said motor before the relay for said reversing timer is de-energized.

6. In a laundry machine, a housing; an article receiving basket mounted in said housing for rotation; cold and hot water inlet means in said housing; a drain leading from said housing; electrically operated valve means for said inlet means and said drain; an electric motor connected to said basket for rotating it, said motor including a reversing, slow speed main winding and a high speed main winding; a starting winding for each of said main windings; impedance means for increasing the torque of said low speed starting winding; means for maintaining energization of both said low speed starting winding and said low speed main winding to keep the motor at a low speed for washing, said means including voltage responsive means for connecting said impedance means in series with said low speed starting winding in response to the electrical operation of said low speed starting winding; means in the circuit of the high speed starting winding for cutting out said high speed starting winding when said motor has achieved a predetermined speed, whereby said motor continues to accelerate on said high speed main winding; a control circuit including separate relay means for opening and closing contacts within the circuit for said motor to cause it alternately to rotate forwardly and reversely at a slow speed and to rotate at an extracting speed in a forward direction; a cycle timer for controlling said relay means; and means for preventing the energizing of the relay means for causing said motor to rotate at extracting speed until substantially all of the free water within said housing has drained.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,225,144 12/ 1940 Bassett. 2,986,915 6/1961 Nau 6812 3,005,328 10/1961 Gehrig 6812 3,111,017 11/1963 Searle 68-24 X FOREIGN PATENTS 469,346 7/1937 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES German printed application, p. 11,968, November 1956.

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner,

PRICE, Examiner 

1. IN A LAUNDRY MACHINE, A HOUSING; AN ARTICLE RECEIVING BASKET MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING FOR ROTATION; COLD AND HOT WATER INLET MEANS IN SAID HOUSING; A DRAIN LEADING FROM SAID HOUSING; ELECTRICALLY OPERATED VALVE MEANS FOR SAID INLET MEANS AND SAID DRAIN; AN ELECTRIC MOTOR CONNECTED TO SAID BASKET FOR ROTATING IT, SAID MOTOR INCLUDING A REVERSING, SLOW SPEED MAIN WINDING AND A HIGH SPEED MAIN WINDING; A STARTING WINDING FOR EACH OF SAID MAIN WINDINGS; IMPEDANCE MEANS FOR INCREASING THE TORQUE OF SAID LOW SPEED STARTING WINDING; MEANS FOR MAINTAINING ENERGIZATION OF BOTH OF SAID LOW SPEED STARTING WINDING AND SAID LOW SPEED MAIN WINDING TO KEEP THE MOTOR AT A LOW SPEED FOR WASHING, SAID MEANS INCLUDING VOLTAGE RESPONSIVE MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID IMPEDANCE MEANS IN SERIES WITH SAID LOW SPEED STARTING WINDING IN RESPONSE TO THE ELECTRICAL OPERATION OF SAID LOW SPEED STARTING WINDING; MEANS IN THE CIRCUIT OF THE HIGH SPEED STARTING WINDING FOR CUTTING OUT SAID HIGH SPEED STARTING WINDING WHEN SAID MOTOR HAS ACHIEVED A PREDETERMINED SPEED, WHEREBY SAID MOTOR CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE ON SAID HIGH SPEED MAIN WINDING; A CONTROL CIRCUIT INCLUDING SEPARATE RELAY MEANS FOR OPENING AND CLOSING CONTACTS WITHIN THE CIRCUIT FOR SAID MOTOR TO CAUSE IT ALTERNATELY TO ROTATE FORWARDLY AND REVERSELY AT A SLOW SPEED AND TO ROTATE AT AN EXTRACTING SPEED IN A FORWARD DIRECTION; AND A CYCLE TIMER FOR CONTROLLING SAID RELAY MEANS. 